Thanks for the interest. I probably should slow down and post a shot much less frequently.

The elk shot was a big surprise. I only took the long exposure to get the shot. I saw the silhouette of the elk in the faint light and it worked out that it showed its progress along the ridgeline in that 20 seconds.

The rust colored striations are what you suspected.....lichen/moss on the rocks. You are also correct in that there is a drop off. It's further than what you projected.....probably a couple hundred yards (the camera angle is somewhat deceiving).